Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-09-03

lOf the P0ilce Court ana ASSIST
ants for the health oficer should certainly not be
taken from this limited force.
THE ARMY AND NAVY CLAUSE.
1t Is declared in an act OF Congress approved
March 2, 1867, that "no person shall be appointed
as policeman or watchman who has not served in
the Army or Navy OF the United States and re-
celved an honorable discharge" An opinion OF the
Supreme Court OF the District OF Columbia has
been construed by the attorney as in effect holding
casa caas IN Inis is no longer binding put tne
appeal to the Supreme Court Of the United States
and pending that appeal the requirements OF the
tended to apply to men who patriotically served
during the late civil war, which terminated more
than TWENTY-FIVE years ago. Those who partci-
years for the activity and exposure incident to q
policeman's life. AS CONSEQUENCE, appointments
are now limited TO men who have enlisted and
served In time OF peace, and have little II any, exc
perience In civil affairs, and no familiarity with
the peculiar and complex laws which govern the
District OF Columbia This restriction upon ap-
pointments should be removed, In order that per-
sons may be selected who, by residence here as
citizens, have acquired some knowledge OF our
laws and OF their application TO community COM
posed or people representing every portion OF our
country.
Experience shows the difficulty OF obtaining a
co0e or laws for the District and until this can be
done higher degree OF Intelligence than that
possessed by the average policeman elsewhere
should be required for position local force
THE NORTHEAST SECTION.
The unprotected condition OF the north.
eastern section Of the city, Known as the
sixth precinct, compelled the assignment to duty
there OF four OF the ten men added TO the force
the 1st July last. A division OF this precinct Is
respectfully urged upon the basis OF one hundred
additional men, and an appropriation for the pur-
chase OF lot and the erection or a station house
The people most interested have, With commenda-
ble forbearance, endured many risks from the
laWleSs and are justified in asking such additional
aid as will give them well-founded sense OF Sc
curtty. This granted, encouragement Will be
given to the activity now manifested In this por-
t1on OF the District, where many buildings are
Delng erected upon waste places, which Will soon
TEEN with people.
MT. PLEASANT AND VICINITY.
Arrangements should also be made for the bet
ter Security in life and property Of the large pop
ulation in the county portion OF the eighth pre-
ctnct. Along and west OF the 14th street road are
many attractive residences, and Mt. Pleasant has
already assumed the proportions OF a cOnsidera-
bic village. Eastward OF the road improvements
have been commenced which Will attract lther
persons who seek homes beyond the crowded. city.
There is now no sub-stauon In this precinct-that
at BrghtwOOd having been necessarily abandoned
the 1St OF July last-and lot should be purchased
at some convenient point, and suitable building
Tor a Sub-StatfOn erected and equipped soon as
an appropriation therefor can be obtained.
The report suggests the desirabiity Of legisia-
ton providing TOR the care OF the dangerously in
sane, OWN. to The embarrassment caused by the
o!d Maryland law. making a trial by jury con-
dition precedent to the legal commitment OF an
insane person.
THE POLICE AND THE PoOL-ROoMs.
Numerous earnest appeals, Major Moore says,
have been made against pooi-rooms OF every de-
Scription. The wife represents that her husband
spends there all his earnings leaving his family to
misery and want. The mother Iearfully COM
plains that her son. infatuated with the hope or
gain, has even resorted to theft to obtain means
10 indulge his thirst for gambling. Some legisla-
uon would seem necessary TO remove from our
midst such evil influences, so seriously affecting
not only the adult, but the inexperienced youth.
The increased number OF arrests has added
largely to the work of the Police Court and pro-
longed its daily sessions Officers who should be
on patrol or taking needful rest are detained the
better part OF the day in attendance upon the
sions OF this tribunal. The demoraliZing effect
upon discipline and efficiency hardly be over
estimated, and some remedy should be devised Tor
this condition OF Affairs, growing worse yearly.
DELAYED JUSTICE.
It is also matter OF regret that appeals from
the Police Court to the Supreme Court OF the Dis
trict of Columbia do not receive more prompt
attention Many cases are lost by reason of delays
In their hearing, due nainly, am informed, to the
Iact that United states cases, OF necessity, have
priority, and often involve prOLracted trials. No
appeals from the Police Court have been brought
to trial Tor several months, but 1t IS hoped that,
by arrangement between the United States attor-
ney and the attorney Of the District sufficiently
prompt disposition Of such Cases viii hereafter be
made to accomplish the ends OF justice.
In conclusion, attention is invited to the accom-
panylns reports OF the property clerk, the sani-
tary on1cer, the board OF surgeons, and Private O.
w. O'Neiil. who has been detailed TO assist the
Humane Society. These documents show tn at
the estimated value OF money and property which
during the year came into the possession or the
police from all sources, and were returned to the
owners, the assessor, the pOundmaster, and prop
erty clerk, was s205. .353. 10; that 2.l54 persons
were sent TO hospitals and other eleemo,ynary an
stitutions; that transportation was furnished 531
persons liable to become a charge upon the Dis
trict OF Columbia; and that the cases Of arrest
aggregated Oslo whites and 9, 156 colOred.
TIE STATISTICS OF TIE YEAR.
The report OF the chief clerk and property clerk,
MI. Richard Sylvester, states that decrease Will
be observed in the aggregate number OF cases as
against the preceding year, notwithstanding the
report OF Prof. Wines. The value OF property, g.,
lost, stolen or abandoned for the year was
$31 O3; returned to owners SIG OS6 50: from re-
wards, tines and sales, there was paid into the
porceinen's fund, s2585.37, the largest sum
ever paid over in one year. Several tables are
given showing the number Of cases against persons
male and female, white and black, under ten,
under twenty-one, under thirty, under forty,
and under and over forty years OF age, with the
charge in each case and the disposition OF the
same by the Police Court, a summary Of which is
as follows: